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HARDEEVILLE — The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team dropped a pair of Sun Conference games Saturday, losing 6-2 and 7-5 to Thomas (Ga.) at Richard Gray Sports Complex.
The Sand Sharks managed only four hits against Thomas starter Ben Overman in the opener, while the Night Hawks gave Overman all the support he needed in the first three innings. Thomas scored twice in the second and tacked on two more in the third on back-to-back RBI doubles by Josh Bruijn and Andrew Crane.
Brandon Joyce knocked in a run in the fourth to cut into the lead, but Thomas added two more in the fifth for a 6-1 advantage. Korey Ahrens made it 6-2 with an RBI groundout in the fifth, but Overman shut out the Sand Sharks the rest of the way.
Ashly Morris was the only player with multiple hits for USCB. CJ Kelly (1-3) took the loss, allowing six runs — five earned — on eight hits over seven-plus innings.
USCB grabbed a 4-0 lead in the finale, getting an RBI groundout from Bryant Salmond, an RBI single from Morris and a two-run double from Erik Armstrong in the four-run third.
The Night Hawks came back with four runs in the fourth — all unearned and all with two outs — and USCB never regained the momentum. Thomas tacked on another unearned run without the benefit of a hit in the fifth and plated two insurance runs in the seventh.
The Sand Sharks couldn't come up with the timely hits they needed to rally, leaving 11 men on base. Morris pushed across one run with an RBI fielder's choice in the eighth, but the Sand Sharks left the tying run on base and managed just one base runner in the ninth.
Morris had two hits and two RBIs and Jon Andrews and JJ Crespo each added two hits in the final game for USCB. Shane Murli (1-1) took the tough-luck loss, allowing five runs — all unearned — on five hits in five innings.
The Sand Sharks are scheduled to play a doubleheader at Voorhees at noon Tuesday before hosting Southeastern (Fla.) for another three-game Sun Conference series Friday and Saturday. The series begins with a doubleheader at noon Friday and concludes with the final game at noon Saturday.
